As communities across Iowa scramble to expand their housing stock – particularly options for working families – Iowa-born Kading Properties is recruiting those with an interest in collaborating on new workforce housing options.
The Urbandale-based development, construction and property management company is inviting Iowa communities to apply to host one of Kading’s 2026 Hometown Tours. The initiative, now in its third year, connects Kading’s leadership team with communities in need of expanding their affordable, workforce housing.
“We’re continuing to see firsthand how housing directly supports economic growth,” said Chace Hauschilt, Kading’s development specialist. “When communities have the right housing options, they attract and retain employees, strengthen local businesses, and keep families invested in the places where they work and live. Hometown Tours has allowed us to lean in…to listen, learn, and identify cities ready for partnership.”
Since launching Hometown Tours in 2024, Kading has completed 10 tours with communities eager to address workforce housing challenges. The goal is to explore the possible impact and viability of workforce housing for these cities’ long-term growth.
“Nearly 50 years ago, the company started providing quality housing that is affordable to the people who make cities run – teachers, law enforcement, EMTs, laborers, young families to retirees,” Mr. Hauschilt told the QCBJ in an email.
Holding true to its brand of quality, affordable housing, he added “Kading is interested in steadily growing by bringing workforce housing to mid-sized Iowa communities.”
As development specialist, the Iowa native works directly with the communities, civic and elected leaders, and Iowa employers to identify which cities will most benefit from more workforce housing.
Filling the housing gap
The company is encouraging various economic development leaders, appointed and elected leaders at the city, county and state levels, and area major employers across Iowa to apply for a Hometown Tour.
Through the Hometown Tours, Iowa communities have an opportunity to showcase their economic momentum, major employers, housing needs, and community vision.
Selected finalist communities receive a comprehensive, in-person visit from Kading to evaluate workforce housing demand and feasibility. Kading’s tour stops include meetings with city officials, economic development leaders, business owners, and other stakeholders.
Communities interested in participating should apply by Monday, April 6, at KadingProperties.com/hometown-tours.
“This is about partnering with Iowa’s small- and mid-sized cities to close the housing gap,” Mr. Hauschilt said in a company news release. “It’s more than a visit; these tours are the first step toward meaningful, long-term investment.”
To date, Kading’s reach expands to 2,700 front doors in its developments, Mr. Hauschilt told the QCBJ.
While its Hometown Tours are in their third year, Kading has long had a workforce housing model.
Among the Iowa communities where it has workforce housing projects now underway are: Adel, Altoona, Bondurant, Boone, Charles City, Cherokee, Corydon, Des Moines, Grinnell, Huxley, Indianola, Knoxville, Madrid, Marshalltown, Nevada, Newton, Osceola, Pella, Perry, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Storm Lake, Stuart, Urbandale, Webster City and Winterset.
In addition, it is eyeing an expansion in eastern Iowa where there also is a need for workforce housing including the Quad Cities and the Corridor.
Company history
The family-owned company, founded in 1978 by Rick Kading, is dedicated to fostering economic growth in Iowa towns through strategic housing development, Mr. Hauschilt said.
Today, the company is led by Mr. Kading’s three daughters: Karie Kading Ramsey, CEO; Lindsey (Kading) Opp, asset manager; and Heather (Kading) Burns, vice president operations.
The company, which also builds its properties, focuses on market-rate, maintenance-free, pet-friendly townhome communities designed to serve working families and professionals.
In communities such as Osceola, where Kading began developing workforce housing in 1998, the expansion of projects has spanned two decades. When nearly 190 new Kading housing units were added during Osceola’s largest development phase, taxable retail income increased fivefold, demonstrating how housing investment fuels local economic growth when residents can live closer to where they work, according to Kading’s release.
Last summer, it conducted Hometown Tours in the Iowa towns of Denison, Fairfield, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Webster City.
From the new 2026 applications submitted, Kading hopes to narrow the list to up to five finalist cities. It has selected five cities to tour in both 2024 and 2025 – the program’s first two years.
Kading builds and manages two- and three-bedroom, one- and two-bathroom single story townhomes. Rents are market rate. Properties include attached garages and extra parking as well as maintenance-free living with lawn care and snow management.
Today, Kading’s reach expands to 2,700 front doors in its developments, Mr. Hauschilt told the QCBJ. In addition, it is eyeing an expansion in eastern Iowa where there also is a need for workforce housing.
To learn more about Kading’s 2026 Hometown Tours, visit KadingProperties.com/hometown-tours.
